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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 13-41

April 11, 2013

CONTACT:

Adam Bosch (845) 334-7868 / Chris Gilbride (718) 595-6600

Department of Environmental Protection Announces Temporary Partial Closure of Public Areas Near Ashokan Reservoir Fountain for Removal of Trees Damaged by Hurricane Sandy

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today announced that the east side of the public park space near the Ashokan Reservoir Fountain, off Route 28A in the town of Olive, will be closed from Thursday April 11 through Thursday April 25 to facilitate the clean-up and removal or trees toppled or damaged by Hurricane Sandy. Hundreds of Norway Spruce and White Pine trees in a 15 acre area at the Ashokan were damaged during the storm. Aside from the area where trees are being removed, the public space at the Ashokan Fountain will remain open from dawn to dusk.

Through an open bid process, DEP contracted with a private timber harvester to remove the fallen trees at no cost to the City. The harvester will pay DEP for the trees which will be recycled into enough lumber to build nearly 25 homes.

The project also includes clean-up work in the forest on the north shore of the East Basin at Jones Cove. Fishing boats stored at Jones Cove will be accessible. However, anglers will be detoured around the forestry work.

Like all forest management undertaken by DEP, this project will employ best management practices to protect natural resources and maximize forest health. Members of the public who have questions about the clean-up project or accessing areas near the forestry work may call Forester Todd Baldwin at 845-340-7854.

DEP manages New York City’s water supply, providing more than one billion gallons of water each day to more than 9 million residents, including 8.3 million in New York City, and residents of Ulster, Orange, Putnam, and Westchester counties. This water comes from the Catskill, Delaware, and Croton watersheds that extend more than 125 miles from the City, and the system comprises 19 reservoirs, three controlled lakes, and numerous tunnels and aqueducts. DEP has nearly 6,000 employees, including almost 1,000 scientists, engineers, surveyors, watershed maintainers and others professionals in the upstate watershed. In addition to its $68 million payroll and $153 million in annual taxes paid in upstate counties, DEP has invested more than $1.5 billion in watershed protection programs—including partnership organizations such as the Catskill Watershed Corporation and the Watershed Agricultural Council—that support sustainable farming practices, environmentally sensitive economic development, and local economic opportunity. In addition, DEP has a robust capital program with over $14 billion in investments planned over the next 10 years that will create up to 3,000 construction-related jobs per year. For more information, visit nyc.gov/dep, like us on Facebook at facebook.com/nycwater, or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/nycwater.

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